Final answer:
The correct proportions of concrete are composed of sand, cement, water, and coarse aggregate. Lightweight concrete, using lightweight aggregates like shale and clay, offers benefits such as reduced structural load and improved thermal insulation. Regular concrete is made of lime mortar, sand, pebbles, and water.
Step-by-step explanation:
Proportions of Concrete Components
Concrete is a composite material crucial to construction, consisting of various proportions of several key ingredients. The correct proportions of concrete are composed of sand, cement, water, and coarse aggregate. Together, these components form the durable and robust material used in a wide array of construction projects. Cement acts as a binder and is rarely used alone; it is mixed with fine and coarse aggregates to create different types of concrete formulations.
Lightweight concrete has become more reliable over the past century and is made by mixing lightweight coarse aggregate with fine aggregates like shale, clay, or slate. This type of concrete offers advantages such as reducing structural load, faster construction rates, durability, and superior thermal protection in comparison to traditional materials like brick.
Regular concrete, on the other hand, typically includes lime mortar, sand, small pebbles, and water. This mixture can be cast into a variety of shapes and hardens to a stone-like material, functioning similarly to quarried stone but at a reduced cost and with easier production. It is often preferred in construction for its balance of strength, durability, and cost-effectiveness.